Balcony fire displaces couple from North Lauderdale condo

A discarded cigarette butt may have fueled a balcony fire that left two residents homeless Monday at the Courtyards of Broward condos, a North Lauderdale official said.

The fire began at a second story unit at 1800 S.W. 81st Ave. at about 10:26 a.m., North Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief Rudy Neumann said.

"It appears to possibly be from a discarded cigarette," Neumann said. "We're not sure exactly what caused it. The tenant said she was smoking and that she put it out. It doesn't appear to be intentional or malicious."

The Broward Sheriff's Office also investigated the incident and no one was arrested, an agency spokeswoman said.

The residents of the unit, which is west of Florida's Turnpike and south of West McNab Road, were away from home by the time the fire broke out and caused a lot of smoke damage, Neumann said.

"That couple was displaced and will be put up by [the American] Red Cross," Neumann said.